Super-habitats

--- In spacesettlers@yahoogroups.com, joe@... wrote:
>
> Well, the other problem is that they don't exist. When they do
exist,
> then I think that will be time to analyze the other problems with
them.
>

that too.

>
> Depending on how strictly you define "now," then I'd say that we
can't
> build space settlements at all. Or at best, we could build
something
> very small, like Kalpana One (only rotationally stable!).
>

the thing is, Kalphana one could be the begining of it. I would like
to see it started, with a frame to stablize it by connecting it to
other counter rotating cylanders. Once it was extended very far it
could then be extended to the sides as well.

imagine building K1, then k2 in the same frame (counter rotating of
course. then k3 would be added to k2, and k4 would be added to k3.

then k5 and 6 would be added between k1 and 2 at a 90 degree angle,
in opposite directions and rotations. then 7 and 8 would be the same
between 2 and 3 and 9 and 10 would be between 3 and 4. these would
then be connected on the other side to for 6 boxes, by 11 -13 on one
side and 14 - 16 on the other. frames would be build a little at a
time, and the cylanders would be build one at a time.

All of this could be done with our present technology. All it would
take is to get the ball rolling and get the first temporary large
rotating cylanders built. Most of the materials could come from
space. Most of the first inhabitants would be construction crews
building it, so they would all have work. The ones that werent
construction would be the support workers, maintaining the
lifesupport, food productions and such. Gradually, more people would
head out to the stations as there was more work and more places to
live and more buisness to take care of.

>
> I don't think space for agriculture is particularly urgent -- the
world
> is facing much more serious problems in the form of energy
production,
> climate change, and WMD getting into the hands of terrorists. Of
> course space settlement would help mitigate all of those, too.
>
not at current times, and not with the current life span. but if we
were to find a way to increase the lifespan of humans by a factor of
10, then we would have a major problem. Also, if something is not
done about the population, it will not be that many years before
there will be a problem. Of course if terrorist get ahold of wmd,
then there might not be a problem with populations for long.